Heat-exchange pressure swing adsorption process for hydrogen separation

A current focus in the energy field is oil the use of hydrogen in,fuel cells. Developn1cut of a hydrogen station system is important to the conn,nercialiZation of fuel cells and fuel cell powered vehicles. In this study, the heat-exchange pressure swing adsorption (HE-PSA) was developed to design a compact H-, PSA process for small spatial occupancy in the hydrogen station. The adsolTlion dynamics and pei.-formance qf the newly designed bed were compared with those of a conventional bed by using a quaternary inixturc (WC0?1CH41CO 69:263:2 vol %) which is generally obtained front the steani-reforming reaction of natural gas. Because the detrimental exothermiclendothermic heat cffects accompanied by the adsorption1desorption steps were reduced by heat e vchange between the adsorption beds, the separation peiforniance of the HEPSA tvas higher than that of a conventional PSA. In addition, the spatial occupancy of the beds could be sigiuficantly reduced, compared with a conventional PSA, because the single annular-typc bed peifornied thejunction Qf two beds in the HE-PSA. (c) 2008 American Institute of Chemical Engineers.